Market Insights
“The aerospace & defense steel brakes market was valued at US$ 608.7 million in 2024 and is likely to grow at a decent CAGR of 2.5% in the long run to reach US$ 776.2 million in 2034.”
Market Dynamics
Introduction
Steel brakes have long been an essential component in the aerospace & defense industry, providing reliable braking performance across a wide range of aircraft applications. Known for their mechanical strength, ease of manufacturing, and proven operational reliability, steel brakes are designed to withstand substantial loads and provide consistent braking under varied environmental conditions. Although heavier and more prone to thermal wear, their lower production cost and simpler maintenance requirements make them a practical choice for aircraft operating under moderate performance demands. As the aviation industry continues to evolve, steel brakes remain an integral part of the global aerospace & defense braking ecosystem, especially in applications where cost-efficiency and robustness take precedence over weight reduction.
Market Segments' Analysis
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Segmentations
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List of Sub-Segments
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Segments with High Growth Opportunity
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Application-Type Analysis
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Commercial Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, General Aviation, and Military Aircraft
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Commercial aircraft currently leads the aerospace & defense steel brakes market and is expected to maintain its dominance, experiencing the highest growth during the forecast period.
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End-Use-Type Analysis
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OEM and Aftermarket
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While the aftermarket currently dominates the market, the OEM is projected to experience higher growth over the period.
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Region Analysis
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North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World
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Asia-Pacific is set to witness robust growth in the years ahead, with North America retaining its dominant market share.
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By Application Type
“The commercial aircraft category represents the largest share of the aerospace & defense steel brakes market within the application category.”
The market is segmented into commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, general aviation, and military aircraft. The dominance of commercial aircraft is primarily attributed to the extensive fleet of regional and narrow-body commercial aircraft that continue to rely on traditional steel braking systems. Many of these aircraft models, especially older generations, were originally equipped with steel brakes due to their lower acquisition cost and proven durability. The large number of these aircraft still in operation ensures a steady aftermarket demand for replacements and maintenance. Additionally, several regional and low-cost carriers continue to prefer steel brakes for smaller aircraft where the benefits of carbon brakes do not fully offset their higher cost. As commercial aviation activity continues to expand globally, particularly in emerging markets, the demand for steel brakes in existing fleets and new aircraft programs is expected to remain strong, driving sustained growth in this category.
By End-Use Type
“The aftermarket currently dominates the aerospace & defense steel brakes market, primarily due to frequent maintenance and replacement requirements in the legacy aircraft.”
Based on the end-use type, the market is segmented into OEM and aftermarket. The aftermarket category currently dominates the aerospace & defense steel brakes market, driven by the extensive number of in-service legacy aircraft that continue to rely on steel braking systems. These aircraft require regular maintenance, refurbishments, and replacements due to wear and tear from continuous operations, ensuring steady aftermarket demand. However, the OEM category is projected to witness the highest growth in the coming years, supported by the production of new regional and narrow-body aircraft that still incorporate steel brakes, particularly in cost-sensitive markets. The ongoing expansion of commercial aviation in developing regions and the introduction of upgraded aircraft models equipped with advanced steel braking systems are expected to further accelerate OEM growth during the forecast period.
Regional Analysis
“Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the highest growth in the coming years, driven by increasing air passenger traffic and expanding commercial fleets.”
North America continues to dominate the market due to the strong presence of major aircraft OEMs and steel brake manufacturers, including Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, and Parker Meggitt. The region’s well-established aerospace supply chain, high defense spending, and continuous technological advancements ensure its leadership position. Together, these factors position North America as the mature core of the market, while Asia-Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The growth in Asia-Pacific is supported by rising aircraft production in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The presence of rapidly growing low-cost carriers, coupled with ongoing airport infrastructure development and regional defense modernization programs, further fuels demand for advanced braking systems.
Key Players
The market is highly concentrated, with few players across the region. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors, including price, service offerings, and regional presence etc. The following are the key players in the aerospace & defense steel brakes market. Some of the major players provide a complete range of services.
Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)
- Meggitt PLC (part of Parker Hannifin Corp)
- Collins Aerospace
- Honeywell International Inc.
Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.
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Report Features
This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:
- Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
- Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
- Market trend and forecast analysis.
- Market segment trend and forecast.
- Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
- COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
- Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
- Emerging trends.
- Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
- Key success factors.
The aerospace & defense steel brakes market is segmented into the following categories.
Aerospace & Defense Steel Brakes Market, by Application
- Commercial Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Aerospace & Defense Steel Brakes Market, by End-Use
- OEM (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
- Aftermarket (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
Aerospace & Defense Steel Brakes Market, by Region
- North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
- Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and the Rest of Europe)
- Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
- Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Argentina, and Others)
Research Methodology
- This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aerospace & defense steel brakes market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period.
- The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market.
- The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruit available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
- This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
- More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
We conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.
Report Customization Options
With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respected clients:
Company Profiling
- Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
- SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)
Competitive Benchmarking
- Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Service portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances
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